MBIA Completes Bond Insurer Trifecta

We now have Ambac (ABK), Assured Guarantee (AGO) and now MBIA (MBI) handily beating estimates.

MBIA (MBI), the holding company for MBIA Insurance Corporation, today reported a net loss of $706.4 million, or $3.37 per share, for the first half of 2008, compared with net income of $410.4 million, or $3.07 per share, during the same period in 2007. For the second quarter, net income was $1.7 billion, or $7.14 per share, compared with $211.8 million, or $1.61 per share, for the same period of 2007. Net income in the quarter was driven primarily by unrealized gains on insured credit derivatives, which totaled $3.3 billion on a pre-tax basis. The majority of the unrealized gain was the result of a substantial widening of credit default swap spreads on MBIA Insurance Corporation during the second quarter. The Company did not materially alter its projection of ultimate loss on mortgage-related exposures. As a result, loss reserves had an insignificant impact on net income.

Net income was also affected by $742 million of pre-tax realized losses resulting from the rebalancing of the asset/liability portfolio in the Company’s Asset/Liability Management (ALM) business. The $742 million in realized losses consisted of $306 million on asset sales related to the rating downgrades of MBIA Insurance Corporation during the second quarter and $436 million of impairments on assets sold or that are expected to be sold in the third quarter to further enhance liquidity in the ALM business.

After-tax operating loss, a non-GAAP measure that excludes the effects of timing-related gains and losses (all non-GAAP measures used herein are defined in the attached Explanation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures), for the first half of 2008 was $339.4 million, or $1.62 per share, compared with after-tax operating income of $408.1 million, or $3.05 per share, for the first half of 2007. After-tax operating income for the second quarter of 2008 was $228.9 million, or $0.96 per share, compared with after-tax operating income of $206.9 million, or $1.57 per share in the same period of 2007.

Here is a quick video on it:
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It appears the worst is over for the bond insurers. This isn't to say it will not be a bumpy ride but their extinction is not in the cards.....

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Disclosure ("none" means no position):None

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